Jos Buttler, the captain of England, expressed disappointment after a below par batting effort against India and claimed that Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya snatched the game from his team at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester on Sunday (July 17).
After being put in to bat first, the home side could only muster 249 runs before getting bowled out in the 46th over, owing to some outstanding bowling by Hardik Pandya. The all-rounder registered his best bowling figures in ODIs as he took 4 wickets while giving away just 24 in 7 overs. The England skipper led from the front scoring 60 off 80 balls.
"I thought we were short on runs. We needed a good start with the ball so that was fantastic. We created chances but two guys took the game away from us, that's where we lost the game. Not concerned about batting. All summer, in T20s and ODIs we haven't batted our best. We just need to bat longer," Buttler said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
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India despite getting off to a flyer were pushed to the back foot as they lost the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli in quick succession. Once again as it was in the 2nd ODI, it was Reece Topley (3/35) who gave his team a solid start.
"(Topley) He's been brilliant. Got his opportunity, and was delighted for him to do well. (Why only 7 overs for Topley) We were trying to search for ways to get wickets. It's been a tough schedule too. Reece is probably creaking a bit as well, so we need to manage our players," Buttler further said.
In the 17th over, the tourists found themselves in a precarious position at 72/4 when in walked Pandya who initiated a counter-attack and along with Rishabh Pant stitched a 133-run match-winning partnership. The flamboyant all-rounder was finally dismissed in the 36th over after a well-made 71 off just 55 balls.
The young southpaw continued the onslaught and brought up his maiden century in the 50-overs format. Finally, with a reverse sweep for a boundary, Pant took his team over the line with still more than 7 overs to spare.
The wicketkeeper batter scored an unbeaten 125 off just 113 balls smashing 16 boundaries and 2 sixes.
"(Pant) When you give players a chance (missed stumping) they will hurt you. Hardik too, a half chance. The score we put up, we were going to need to take all our chances. (Being a keeper captain) I've found it fine, to be honest. Missed a chance today but don't think it's anything to do with my captaincy. (Adil Rashid returning for SA series) We move on quickly. He's been one of our most important players so would be good to have him back," Buttler added.
With this win, the Men in Blue won the 3-match ODI series by 2-1.
Hardik won the Player of the Series honor, while Pant received the Player of the Match award.
(SKY SPORTS INPUTS)
